Can I just check whether this sounds like braxton hicks?

I am only 18 weeks pregnant but this afternoon I keep getting tighenings over my bump. My whole bump goes hard and the pressure is quite uncomfortable. They happen every 10 mins or so and last a few minutes.

I never had anything quite like this in my first pregnancy until I was in labour. Therefore I am slightly concerned but hoping that it is just braxton hicks.

I started getting them at 16 weeks and I phoned the hospital in a panic because I thought that it meant I would go into premature labour. The maternity unit reassured me that lots of women get them very early on in pregnancy.